Can-opener



(ModeL) S. WRIGHT. CAN OPENEB.

Patented Oct. 19, 1897.

WITNESSES m: NORRIS PEI-awed,waroumm-wuumown. n. c

llNiTE' STAT ATENT much.

I .SAMUEL M. WRIGHT, OF DENVER, INDIANA.

CAN-OPEN ER.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 592,129, dated October 19, 1897. Application filed February 27,- 189']. fierial N 625,246. (No model.)

To ctZZ whom it may concern.-

Be it known that I, SAMUEL M. WRIGHT, a citizen of the United States, residing at Denver, in the county of Miami and State of Indiana, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Can -Openers; and I do hereby declare the following to be a full, clear,

and exact description of the invention, such as will enable others skilled in the art to which it appertains to,make and use the same.

This invention relates to can-openers, the object being to provide a simple, cheap, and efficient article of the character referred to, by means of which the side, top, or end of a can may be quickly incised and removed for giving access to the contents of the can.

The improved can-opener is also adjustable to cans of different sizes and diameters, thus enabling the cut to be made close to the edge of the can or at any desired distance therefrom.

l/Vith these general objects in view the invention consists of a can-opener embodying certain novel features and details of construction and disposition of parts, as hereinafter fully described, illustrated in the drawings, and incorporated in the claims.

'In the accompanying drawings, Figure 1 is a perspective View of the improved canopener. Fig. 2 is a perspectiveview of a can with the device as when operating on the top thereof. Fig. 3 is a plan view of the canopener. Fig. 4. is a detail perspective View of the adjustable cutter.

Similar numerals of reference designate corresponding parts in the several figures of the drawings.

Referring to the drawings, 1 designates the handle of the improved can-opener, one end ofwhich is provided with a longitudinal slot 2, which is disposed horizontally when the can-opener is in operative position. At the extreme inner end'of the handle, and at one corner thereof, is a spur 3, which projects diagonally or obliquely from the corner of the handle and which lies in a plane substan-. tially parallel to the plane of the handle, so as to engage beneath the portion of the can to be removed. The spur 3 is connected to the handle 1 by means of a short shank 4,

which lies at right angles to the handle 1 and I spur 3, said portion forming the fulcrum about within the slot 2, and at its heel end the shank 6 is provided with a transverse pin 7, which projects upon both sides of the shank, so as tobear against the advance edge of the handle 1. The advance edge of the handle 1 is provided with a series of notches 8, in which the transverse pin 7 engages for holding the cutter at different points along the handle, according to the diameter of the cut to be made. These notches are arranged in oppositely-located pairs at each side of the slot 2, so that the cutter is evenly balanced with regard to the handle and the strain thereon equalized. At the junction of the cutter 5 with the shank 6 an offset 9 is formed, so as to locate the base of the hook in substantially the same plane with the lower side of the handle, so that the hook may bear and rest upon the can. The point 10 of the hook is depressed or deflected downward and brought to a sharp point, so that said point may be readily inserted and pushed through the end of the can preparatory to the cutting operation. Theinside edge of the hook is sharpened, as indicated at 11, and forms the cutting edge of the device.

In operation, the spur 3 is inserted through the can at the center of the top or end or side to be removed. The handle is then depressed until the point of the hook enters the tin, then moved laterally, so as to bring the cutting edge of the hook in contact with the material of the can. The handle is now swung around the spur 3 as a center, and as the handle is moved the material of the can is lifted by the inclined upper surface of the point of the hook, and at the same time severed or out by the knife-edge 11. By making an entire revolution with the handle 1 the top or end of the can is out nearly in two in a circular path, after which the cut portion may be removed or turned back and access is thus given to the can.

By the construction described, the cutter may be moved longitudinally of the handle for adapting the device to cans of different sizes and varying the diameter of the circular cut made by the can-opener. By having the spur 3 disposed obliquely, said spur forms a bearing beneath the portion of the can to be removed and prevents the can-opener from rocking during the cutting operation.

The device is extremely simple in construction, may be manufactured cheaply, and will be found efficient and reliable in use.

Having thus described the invention,\vhat is claimed as new, and desired to be secured by Letters Patent, is

1. A can-opener consisting of a handlehaving an end spur, a flat under surface and a longitudinal slot parallel with said surface, a cutter having a shank adapted to operate in the handle-slot, the said cutter having a depressed point and being provided with an offset anda transverse pin,whereby its shank is retained in the handle-slot, substantially as and for the purpose set forth.

2. The combination in a can-opener, of a handle having a spur at one end thereof, a flat under surface and a longitudinal slot parallel therewitln'the advance face of the handle provided, at each side of the slot, with notches as described, and a cutter having a depressed hook-shaped cutting edge, an offset at the base of the said edge, and a transverse pin in the outer end of the shank for adj usting and retaining same in the handle-slot, substantially as specified,

In testimony whereof I have signed this specification in the presence of two subscrib- 35 ing witnesses.

SAMUEL M. Wl'tlGlI'l. Witnesses:

ALFRED EIKENBERRY, ERNEST A. KESSLEl-t. 

